County officer is facing criminal charges after weeks-long investigation, according to Lt. James Leonard, III.
Leonard said on August 31, 2021, the commander of the Office of Professional Standards for the New Castle County Division of Police was made aware of what he described as an excessive use of force incident. The incident allegedly occurred in the prisoner processing area of Police Headquarters, located at 3601 North DuPont Highway in New Castle.
This incident, reported by an officer who witnessed the encounter, involved a 16-year-old female prisoner and former Corporal Michael Carnevale, according to Leonard. Carnevale was assigned to the processing area. After a review of the incident by the officer’s commander, the matter was referred to the Division’s Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU).
The CIU commander conducted a weeks-long investigation, interviewing the female involved and several witnesses, including police officers. That investigation was then turned over to the Department of Justice, Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust after determining that probable cause existed to charge the officer with a crime.
Leonard said County Police were informed by the Department of Justice that an indictment has been secured in New Castle County Superior Court, charging Carnevale with the following charges: Offensive Touching, Official Misconduct, and Falsifying Business Records.
Through an internal investigation, Carnevale was found to have violated several New Castle County Police Policies said Leonard. Prior to any discipline being imposed, he separated his employment with the New Castle County Division of Police added Leonard.
“I am troubled by the interaction that occurred between Former Corporal Carnevale and the 16-year-old victim in this matter. While this is a sad day for the New Castle County Police, I can assure you the actions by Carnevale do not, in any way, represent the actions or beliefs of the many honorable officers of this Division. I am committed to making certain our officers hold themselves to the highest standard of conduct, treating each member of the public with the respect they deserve, ensuring their safety not only in our communities but also within our own walls. I’d like to express my gratitude to the officers who brought this excessive use of force incident to our attention and to our partners at the Department of Justice for assisting us in completing a thorough investigation.”, said County Police Chief Colonel Bloch.